Research Assistant Scientist In Vitro Breeding
About The Position
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is seeking a Research Assistant Scientist for the Blueberry Breeding Program. This 12-month, non-tenure-accruing position is 100% research and will focus on advancing plant tissue culture techniques and cellular manipulation strategies. The role involves developing and integrating advanced biotechnological strategies and automation systems to optimize germplasm conservation, propagation, enhance diversity, and generate new cultivars to support Florida's agriculture. The faculty member will serve as the In vitro Breeding Team Leader, working closely with the program's Director. Responsibilities include elaborating research lines, managing projects, securing collaboration and funds, reporting progress, outputs, and impacts to stakeholders, and implementing research outcomes operationally.
Requirements
- A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in plant breeding or a closely related discipline.
- Hands-on experience in plant breeding technologies.
- Expertise in tissue culture.
- Experience related to ploidy manipulation.
- Experience related to cellular cycle manipulation.
- Experience related to blueberry regeneration strategies.
- Experience related to plant clonal propagation.
- Demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication.
- Demonstrated skills in interpersonal relationships.
- Supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system.
- Commitment to UF core values.
- Eligibility to work in the US.
Nice To Haves
- Postdoctoral experience.
- Industry experience in plant breeding.
- Industry experience in tissue culture.
- Experience working with blueberry and other specialty crops.
- Experience using transcriptomic information to assist in breeding strategies and tissue culture.
- Experience with tissue culture training.
- Experience with R&D leadership.
- Experience collaborating with industry partners.
- Experience translating research into applied outcomes.
- Demonstrated project management experience.
- Demonstrated leadership experience, including building collaborations among a variety of interdisciplinary scientific teams.
- Grant writing experience.
- Budgeting experience for scientific discovery.
- Multi-lingual to operate in an international context.
- Supervision skills for communications and administrative staff.
Responsibilities
- Develop and integrate advanced plant tissue culture techniques and cellular manipulation strategies.
- Advance the development of superior cultivars.
- Elaborate research lines.
- Manage projects.
- Secure collaboration and funds.
- Actively support the innovation of biotechnological strategies and automation systems.
- Optimize germplasm conservation, propagation, enhance diversity and generate new cultivars.
- Support Florida’s agriculture sector.
- Implement research outcomes in an operational manner.
- Report progress, outputs, and impacts to interested stakeholders.
- Serve as the In vitro Breeding Team Leader.
- Work closely with the Blueberry Breeding Program’s Director.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
